Devil May Cry - The Complete Series Blu-rayReview

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First there was the game. Then there was the anime. Now it's all on Blu-ray.

By Cindy White

The problem with the Devil May Cry anime series is that it doesn't really give us anything new. It has some cool action scenes, but so what if it does? The games have a bunch of those too, and you don't just sit and watch them there – you get to actually create those awesome-looking punch-ups and gunfights all by yourself.

This obviously backed the creators of the TV show into something of a corner. What could they give us that the games haven't given us already? Substantial character development? Meaningful social commentary? Deep and thought-provoking musings on the human condition and the meaning of life? None of that sort of thing fits very well in the Devil May Cry milieu. Dante is not a guy who likes to talk in long sentences.

So they did what they could, and ultimately it wasn't very much. Devil May Cry the cartoon has some cool action scenes, and the injection of a cute kid sidekick does lend itself to a few good laughs at Dante's expense. Otherwise it's action animation by the numbers.

The series is presented in its original 16:9 widescreen format in 1080p resolution. While this is a slight improvement over the already proficient standard-definition release – with a cleaner, sharper image and fine color reproduction – this isn't a really significant upgrade. The two-dimensional quality of the image really can't be improved upon much, even with the increased resolution offered by Blu-ray. There's also a smoky haze covering everything, making for slightly milky blacks and glaring whites. A few digital fluctuations also get in the way of this being a truly outstanding presentation.

Score: 7 out of 10

Languages and Audio

The audio is available in the original Japanese Dolby True HD 5.1 presentation and a dubbed English version in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (English subtitles are available with both tracks). Neither of these tracks is particularly dynamic, though switching back and forth between them reveals a slight edge to the English version. There's little in the way of atmospheric effects here. In some of the outdoor scenes the only sound element is the crisp dialogue. And in scenes were you really want the sound to really rip – like the motorcycle scenes in "Highway Star" or the crackling of electricity in "Rolling Thunder" – it's more fizzle than sizzle. Gunshots, explosions and the snarling of demons are all common elements in this series, but they don't pack much of a punch. At least the mix is balanced and consistent, though. And all is perfectly audible where it should be.

Score: 7 out of 10

Extras and Packaging

This two-disc release comes in a standard blue case with art that's been recycled and slightly altered from a previous individual season release. Disc one features the first nine episodes, while the three final episodes and the special features are available on disc two.

The full list of special features, all presented in standard definition, is as follows:

The interview feature is in Japanese with English subtitles. The footage is re-edited from an interview that originally ran on the official Devil May Cry Web site before the release of the series. The quality isn't great, but it is interesting to see the actor in person and to hear his thoughts on the character. He even bears a slight resemblance to Dante.

Fans of the video game will find a lot of relevant content in the special features, though it might have proven more exciting before the fourth game was released. There are seven cut scenes here directly from Devil May Cry 4 for gamers to enjoy. They won't make a lot of sense to those who have only seen the anime and not played the game (if there is anyone out there who fits that description), but for devoted fans it's nice to have these all in one, easily accessible, place.

The E3 preview from 2007 is essentially a trailer introducing Devil May Cry 4 with footage from the cut scenes set to a thumping techno soundtrack. The same goes for the 2006 preview from the Tokyo game show, but this one shows some actual gameplay and includes a bit more dialogue taken from the game. The other trailers and footage assemblies are basically re-edited versions of theses same materials. They get a bit repetitive when watched in succession, but at leat they're well edited and do a good job of building up excitement for the game.

The clean credits, both opening and closing, are just as advertised – alternate versions of the sequences without any text on the screen. For animation enthusiasts, this is the best way to truly appreciate the graphic images without any interference or distractions.

The disc also includes trailers for these other anime titles: Hell Girl, Red Garden, Ghost Hunt, Blassreiter, Heat Guy J, Nabari No Ou, Fullmetal Alchemist and Welcome to the NHK.

Looking at the supplemental features as a whole, there's really not that much here that deals with the series itself. A discussion with the creators, some deleted scenes, a look at the animation process or interviews with the English-speaking voice actors would have been a welcome addition.

Score: 6 out of 10

The Bottom Line

Devil May Cry had the potential to make an entertaining anime series, yet that potential wasn't ever fully realized during its short 12-episode run. And for those who did enjoy the series, the relatively slight improvement in the Blu-ray presentation doesn't quite justify going the full HD route. We recommend going back and playing any of the games again for a more rewarding storytelling experience.